www.nextwaveonline.com
Daily Recharge
Mal Fletcher
A Holy Life
25 April 2024
Matthew 27:20-22 'But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas [a notorious murderer and troublemaker] and to have Jesus executed. "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" asked the governor. "Barabbas," they answered. "What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked. They all answered, "Crucify him!" (NIV)
Holiness is a decision. It is a choice to live in line with the character of God. For example, because I know God doesn't lie (Num. 23:19), I will tell the truth. I understand that God is patient (Ps. 86:15), so I won't become enraged when someone offends me. God forgives (Ps. 103:3), so I won't harbour long-term grudges. If I seek to line up my behaviour and attitudes with those that I see in the Lord, I can't help but lead a holy life. Of course, the practice is never as easy as the theory. If it wasn't for the Spirit's daily infilling, we couldn't sustain it at all. Every one of us lives with a Barabbus inside us - the Bible calls him the 'old self' or 'the sinful self. (Eph. 4:22). Barabbus was a murderer and thief and even the best of us are no better than he was before we come to Christ. Just as the people in Jesus' day had to choose between Barabbus and the Lord, so must we make a choice every day of our lives -- either we release the bully within, or the servant, the hater or the carer, the selfish one or the giving one. One or the other will rule our lives. Holiness is releasing the Jesus within and crucifying the old, sin-infested Barabbus.
Prayer: Lord, help me today to put to death my old ways, to release the presence of Jesus within. Make my life a holy life, so that my attitudes and actions line up with those that I see in you.'
© Mal Fletcher 2003-2004
www.nextwaveonline.com